TGIF January 2026: Scores
| 1. Matchpoints. N-S vul.
|
K J
Q 9 7 6
5 3
K J 9 8 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1
|
Dbl
|
Pass
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
3
| 8
| 100
|
|
2
| 8
| 90
|
|
2
| 1
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 50
|
|
1NT
| 0
| 40
|
|
2
| 0
| 40
|
|
2NT
| 0
| 30
|
|
Moderator: All problems this month come from Marc Smith, who runs bidding contest polls on RealBridge. On this problem, our panelists wish they could bid 2.5 hearts.
Zachary Grossack: 3. The Italians are screaming. In America, it's just normal: This shows 9-11 HCP and 4+ hearts. However, having only four hearts for this bid in Italy is a capital crime.
Sheri Winestock: 2. . . going low. The meager heart suit and points in the spade suit are making me discount the pluses of high-card points and the club suit. Hopefully, I will get a chance to bid again. Where in the bidding box is that 2 1/2 heart bid?
Michael Dimich: 3. The positive is that West is on lead so a little aggressive in the bidding.
Christopher Diamond: 2. Positionally not enough for more.
Robert Sauve: 2. Downplay my K J.
Larry Meyer: 3. Partner wants to know if I have a 4-card heart suit, so tell him.
Perry Khakhar: 2. I don't like the K J as 4 of my 10 count. Matchpoints makes me a bit pessimistic.
Paul McMullin: 2. Aceless with the spade honors likely poorly placed. I will need to hear more from partner before I get excited.
Mike Roberts: 3. Right on values, and minors are, well, minors.
Louk Verhees: 3. This depends also a bit on your agreements, but I assume it is practical to bid 3.
Kf Tung: 1NT. If partner passes 1N, then 1N should be fine. Let me be declarer.
|
| 2. Matchpoints. None vul.
| |
K 8 2
Q 10
K Q 10 9 6 2
6 5
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
|
1
|
1
| |
|
1
|
2
|
Dbl
(1)
|
Pass
| |
|
2
|
Pass
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Support double showing three spades.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
2NT
| 7
| 100
|
|
3
| 5
| 90
|
|
Pass
| 3
| 80
|
|
Dbl
| 2
| 60
|
|
3
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: Discussion with your partner about competitive auctions is important, as highlighted by this problem.
Amber Lin: Dbl. My partner has six hearts or two diamonds, so we'll find a fit. By passing last time, I'm showing a weaker hand that just wants to compete.
Janice Molson: Pass. I wish I knew how many spades they have. If I were sure it's eight, I would bid 3, assuming partner would know my pass over the support double indicated heart tolerance.
Josh Donn: 2NT. Sounds like two places to play, which would be six diamonds and two hearts in the this scenario. I do want to get the opponents out of 2.
Radu Nistor: 3. Because I didn't bid 2 immediately or 3 over 2-(Dbl), then I am showing heart tolerance, so partner can choose if he wants to play 3 or 3. I don't like to pass at matchpoints when my diamond suit is so good and I have a heart fit if partner has six, which he should.
Michael Dimich: 3. How can any bridge player allow a 2 bid to stand when they can either push them up one level or buy the contract in 3?
Christopher Diamond: 3. Pushy but 2 likely not good for us and even down two undoubled could be better.
Larry Meyer: 3. Don't sell out to 2 when they have a fit.
Perry Khakhar: Pass. I really don't need to create anything. I am not forced!
Paul McMullin: 3. No profit allowing them to play 2; my Q 10 should be useful.
Mike Roberts: 3. Not clear, but I had the discipline to pass over the double, so partner won't hang me.
Louk Verhees: 3. Seems like sorta no brainer 3 although Dbl maybe more flexible.
Kf Tung: 3. Shows 6 diamonds. Partner may bid 3 if appropriate.
|
| 3. IMPs. Both vul.
| |
7
Q 10 9 6
10 6 2
A K 10 7 2
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
1NT
| |
|
2
|
2
|
5
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
5
| 11
| 100
|
|
Dbl
| 6
| 80
|
|
Pass
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: In practice, if you never bid 'five over five' again, you'll probably come out ahead. On this one, however, 5 is just too tempting for the majority of the panel.
Roger Lee: 5. Partner's presumed diamond shortness and lack of a takeout double mean he is probably 5-5, maybe 6-4. Although double is the kneejerk reaction, I think it's a lazy call. If partner bumps to six with a diamond void, we're going to make it, which is a very real possibility.
Kerri Sanborn: Dbl. The Law of Total Tricks is clear. They have 10 trumps at best, and we have probably nine, so that's 19 total. If we can make 11 tricks, they can only take eight.
Michael Dimich: 5. All our cards are working so 5 seems safe.
Christopher Diamond: 5. Pard is likely void in diamonds. Probably comes down to the club fit. Double is tempting.
Larry Meyer: Pass. Let the opponents take their chances with the last guess in this auction.
Perry Khakhar: 5. There are no clear cut bids. I refuse to just double when most likely, we have a 5-3 or 5-4 club fit and a 9/8 card heart fit and no diamond losers.
Paul McMullin: Dbl. I cannot picture 6 making, and we should be able to set 5 sufficiently to score well.
Mike Roberts: 5. This hand is so pure, assuming EW are being honest, that 6 isn't that nuts.
Louk Verhees: 5. I take a shot. Pard surely very often has void diamonds.
|
| 4. IMPs. E-W vul.
| |
4
J 8 7 5
A Q 9 8 6 3
A K
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
2
|
2NT
|
3
| ? |
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
Dbl
| 12
| 100
|
|
6
| 2
| 70
|
|
4NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
5NT
| 1
| 60
|
|
3NT
| 1
| 50
|
|
5
| 0
| 40
|
|
Moderator: The majority opts to bide time with a double.
James Holzhauer: Dbl. I don't mind partner passing at these colours if he has spade tricks.
Barry Rigal: 6. They give me a problem, I'll give *them* a problem.
Michael Dimich: 4NT. East is vulnerable so why the immolation offer? Best counter may be 4NT to cover partner's 2NT range.
Christopher Diamond: 5. His possible wastage in spades argues against higher.
Larry Meyer: 3NT. Bid the most likely game.
Perry Khakhar: Dbl. This is the most flexible bid possible. My partner is likely to take this as responsive (I hope!).
Paul McMullin: 6. If I am wrong, I will hope everyone else guesses wrong too.
Mike Roberts: 4. Followed by 5 over 5. I think that means two places to play.
Bob Zeller: 4NT. On the way to 6 or more.
Louk Verhees: Dbl. Most flexible. Very unlikely pard will pass in spite of colors.
Kf Tung: 5. Let them guess.
|
| 5. Matchpoints. E-W vul.
| |
K 9 7 5
10 9 7
A K 8
A Q 8
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
1
|
Pass
|
2
| |
|
Pass
|
3
(1)
|
Pass
| ? |
| (1) Splinter in support of clubs.
|
Your call?
| Bid | Votes | Award
|
|
4
| 10
| 100
|
|
4
| 4
| 80
|
|
3NT
| 2
| 60
|
|
5
| 1
| 50
|
|
Moderator: This hand took place at the recent NABC in San Francisco in the national Mixed Pairs, where there were a variety of final contracts, but mostly games or slams in hearts or notrump. Partner's hand was - A K Q J 8 Q J 3 2 K J 10 4.
Steve Robinson: 4. . . which shows heart support and extras. You need a forcing bid which shows hearts in this auction. I plan to bid keycard next.
August Boehm: 3NT. Not an elegant auction.
Larry Cohen: 4. In my book, 3 doesn't promise extras. Picture: x A Q x x x Q J x K J 10 x. My K is mostly useless now, so I am taking the low road. 3NT crossed my mind (as it always does at matchpoints) but once my K is gone, I would need hearts and clubs to run --- too much to hope for.
Michael Dimich: 4. Whoa Nellie! Time to show the 3-card heart fit and let partner chart the bidding waters.
Christopher Diamond: 4. 2 is gross and now I don't have any way to check heart quality. Probably too low but handcuffed.
Robert Sauve: 4. Don't like my 2 bid.
Larry Meyer: 4NT. We have the values for slam, but are we off 2 quick tricks?
Perry Khakhar: 4. I really don't have clubs. Also I hate my K; wish it were the K! This is enough.
Paul McMullin: 5. I hope this asks partner to continue with strong hearts.
Mike Roberts: 4. Not sure about this one.
Louk Verhees: 4. To me 4 sets hearts and 4 sets clubs. Obviously the K is not good, but opposite x A K Q x x x x K x x x x slam is already close. Not giving up yet.
Kf Tung: 4. That was my original plan. 2 then 4 to show 16 and heart support.
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